Sunday, February 04, 2007

Connoisseurs of newFNP know that she is prone to cynicism, to sarcasm and, sometimes, to frank exasperation. Well, newFNP is attempting to focus on the positive, to adopt a glass is half-full perspective, to be understanding.

For instance, just the other day, newFNP was leaving the loo, thinking to herself how grateful she is to work in a true family practice clinic. There are no internal medicine, pediatrics and gynecology clinics. No, newFNP jaunts from an elderly, obese, illiterate, non-compliant diabetic patient in room 1 (less fun) to a three-day old baby in room 2 (more fun). It is a lovely way to practice and newFNP does not get too bogged down in pediatric URIs or geriatric DM.

Another fashion in which newFNP has attempted to utilize the power of empathy is to attempt to understand the emotions and thought processes behind her patients' actions.

Consider - if you will - the case of the woman with the itchy scalp and hair loss. To newFNP, it might seem simply ludicrous and frankly dangerous to self-treat with topical Clorox bleach. But to her patient, perhaps the use of said laundry brightener/toilet cleaner was an act of sheer desperation, allowing newFNP to truly appreciate the urgency of the scalp situation. OK OK, it did take newFNP two days of incredulousness to gain said insight, but she is working on it and attempting to grow professionally.

She is also trying not to pull her hair out and get shipped to the psych ward before her contracted term is up. If she can pull it off, newFNP will have what is known as a "win - win" situation. Fulfilling employment on the one hand, significantly less student loan debt on the other.

This blog is for new NPs or NP students who want some real 411 on the life of a new practitioner. A new practitioner in a busy, understaffed, urban community health clinic in a major metropolitan area. Oh, and newFNP swears while writing and, sometimes, while working although she tries to keep those swears to herself. Consider yourself warned.